Fuel tank mounting for tractors



April 5, 1938. D. B. BAKER ET AL 2,112,876

FUEL TANKMOUNTING FOR TRACTORS 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1936 April 1938. D. B. BAKER Ef AL 2,112,876

FUEL TANK MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS Filed Feb. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 p UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic-E" 'f FUEL TANK MOUNTING FORTRAGTORS David B. Baker, Riverside, Clifford R. Rogers, Oak Park, and Norman 0. Panzegrau, Chicago, 111., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,382

g 8 Claims. (01. 280-) The invention relates to tractors, and more Another object is generally to simplify the particularly to the provision of an improved'fuel structure for supporting a fuel tank. tank mounting for carrying the fuel tank on the These objects are achieved by the particular body of the tractor. form of tank mounting disclosed in the accom- 1 5 In the present embodiment of the invention panying sheets of drawings, wherein: 5

there will be disclosed a crawler type tractor in Figure l is a general side elevational view of which the main frame, supported on crawler a crawler type tractor with the improved fuel :units, is constructed of reenforced side plates tank mounting carried on its body; whichlie in vertical planes and run longitudinally Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, rear sec in Sp ced, parallel relation, said frame plates at tional view through the tank, its mounting and 10 their rear ends being cross-connected by a trans the tractor body taken along the line 22 of Figmission mechanism housing box, and wh Side ure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

r m plates at their forward ends rry a cross- Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail, side elevational connecter f0! mOunting a motor. view to show one of the rear brackets for carryl5 The improved fuel tank mounting is provided m the rear end of the tank; t v to locate the fuel tank at the rear end of the Figure 415 a View similar t Figure 2 t taken motor. along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the 1 It is common practice to mount fuel tanks Opposite direction as indicated rearwardly of the motor and on the body strucand,

ture of h tractor wlth the tank usually trans Figure 5 is a side, elevational, detail view illusversely dlsposed across the body and elevated trating one of the forward bracket supports for 'thereabove. Since the operators seat and his the tank driving control compartment are usually located just behind the tank, it follows that the projected ends of the tank cause an obstruction in the line of vision of the operator, so that it is difficult for him to see past the sides of the motor and across the front ends of the crawler track devices to aid him in maneuvering the tractor.

by the arrow;

The main frame of the tractor comprises a pair of sheet metal side plates l0 lying in vertical planes and spaced apart to run longitudinally, 2 with the respective upper and lower edges of the plates H! carrying inturned upper and lower angle bars H for strengthening the side plates ID. The

By means of the present invention the fuel tank 32 2332 3 2 31 2 giz rgif e? is preferably cylmdrical and has its longitudinal p axis longitudinally disposed on the tractor, so that meal (in action W111 be msposed at h rear ends of the fuel tank will not occupy much space trans each plate lfl. These wide ends of each rear plate versely across the body of the tractor in front of m are 'P nveted sefillllfed y O tS the drivers seat, whereby the driver has better to T j large real 31151111551011 0 u vision alongside the superstructure parts of the Thus 1t 15 that the box Serves as os o body, to facilitate his control and. operation f necter between the rear ends of the side frame the tractor. Plates T mgunting of t fuel t i heavy duty This box H in any suitable manner carries a type t t is a real prgblem Since t fuel transverse rear axle IS, the ends of which project 40 tank must be of relatively large capacity. F r laterally from the side of the box to serve as example, in the present disclosure the tractor is J'Ournals 1C01 mounting the usual real driving of such a size that it is desirable that the tank sprocket wheels M, around which e pectivehave .a capacity of, at least, 75 gallons. This calls y trained the pp de ndless track shoe for a tank of considerable size, and, when l d d crawler belts l5. The ends of the axle l3 further with fuel, requires stable support to carry all of carry app p pivot brackets or pivotally 5 this Weight mounting the usual forwardly extending track The-main object of the invention is to provide frames ii, which extend longitudina y forw r ly an improved fuel tank mounting for tractors. Within the belts 55 and alongside the body In of Another object is to provide such a mounting the tractor. The forward end of each track which will be capable of supporting a fuel tank frame l! carries a jounal block it including a of relatively large size in a rigid and stable manshaft H! for turnably mounting a front idler wheel ner on the body of a tractor, and in a position 20, said idler wheels guiding the forward loop of longitudinally thereon, so as not to interfere with the respective chains If: in the well known manthe line of vision of the driver. ner. The track frames I! may carry additional 55 to the respective side plates In, said cross bolster including pads 26 at each end thereof for the mounting of a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending brackets 21, of which there are two respectively disposed one on each side of the tractor body. These brackets are very sturdy and include web portions, each carrying an arcuate series of integrally formed bosses 28 extending longitudinally from the rearward faces of the brackets, the upper edges of each bracket being formed arcuately in the surface of a common cylinder. Further, the upper end of each bracket includes a flange 29', which is turned outwardly, asshown in Figure4. x

"I'he'top of the box l2 at its forward edge is formed with a bracket portion 30 providing pads 3|, to which'is secured by means of bolts 32a cross. sheet metal wall member 33, which integrally includes a' saddle portion 34 at its upper edge, which provides an arcuate cylindrical surface, as shown in Figure 2. The ends of the saddle flange 34 provide outturned flanges35, to which are respectively secured by bolts 36 longitudinally running angle bars 31. c

The horizontal flanges of the bars 31 are thus .bolted respectively to the horizontal flanges 35.

The other flange of-the angle bars 31 is extended upwardly as a continuation of the cylindrical flange 34;-as shown at 38. The forward ends of these. angle bars 31 are secured by'bolts 39 to the flanges 29 on the brackets 21 heretofore described. An arcuate angle bar 40-hasone flange disposed vertically, and provided with holes at its ends, which respectively overlie the webs on the brackets 2|,'so that by means of bolts 4| the brackets ;2'|. are tied together by the bar 40 in a transverse direction. The bolts 4| vpass through the respec- ,tive bosses 28, said bosses serving as spacers begtween thebrackets 21 and bar 40. Further, this .bar .40 has a horizontal flange 42 to strengthen the same, the bar 40 being generally curved in the same cylinder as the upper arcuate edges of the brackets 21.

A cylindrical fuel tank is shown at 43, the same being of relatively large size and having its axis longitudinally disposed, so that, when mounting a.) the same, it can be laid down on the cylinder surfaces formed by the upper edges of the brackets 21 and the saddle flange 34 on the rear wall member 33, these upper saddle surfaces on therespective brackets 21 and Wall 33 being complementary and common to the cylindricalsurface of the tank 43 to make a good flt. When the tank 43 is thus mounted in place, the side edges of said tank are welded, as at 44, to'the upper edge of the arcuate flange 38 of the side angle bars 31. It will thus be seen that the tank is securely mounted in place with the same longitudinally disposed and that, by means of the welding, the usual straps provided to hold down a fuel tank are eliminated.

Itwill further be appreciated from this disclosure that the improved fuel tank mounting is ample to support a'tank of large capacity and of great weight in a sturdy manner and without the use of cumbersome and expensive securing devices. 1 7

frame and a motor longitudinally mounted at the forward end thereof, of a fuel tank mounting on the frame behind the motor comprising a crosssupport included in the frame at the rear end ofthe motor, a bracket structure mounted on the cross-support with the upper end thereof providing anarcuate surface of a cylinder, a vertical wall carried on the frame rearwardly of the cross- .support and providing an upper saddle flange formed as the surface of the same cylinder, side bars longitudinally carried in spaced relation on the bracket structure and wall, said side bars being angular in cross section and presenting a horizontal flangesecured to the bracket structure and wall and an upright arcuate flange conforming to the shape of the same cylinder, a cylindrical fuel tank carried longitudinally on said bracket structure and Wall between the bars, and means for securing the tank to the upright arcuate flanges of said bars. y 1

2.-The combination with a tractor having a frame and a motor longitudinally'mounted.at the forward end thereof, of a fuel tank'mo'unting on the frame behind the motor comprising a crosssupport includedin the frame at the rear end' of the motor, a bracket structure mounted on. the cross-support, a verticalwall carried on'theframe rearwardly of the cross-support, side anglebars longitudinally carried in spaced relation on the bracket structure and wall, a fuel tank carried on said brackets and wall between the angle bars, said angle bars each} comprising 'a horizontal flange secured to the bracket structure'and.

wall and an upright flange adapted to fit respectively the opposite sides of the tank,'said tank and upright flanges being welded together to secure the tank in place on said tank mounting structure. 1

3. The combination with a tractor having a frame comprising a pair of side members longitudinally disposed in spaced relation with a transmission box cross-connecting the rear ends'thereof and with a motor longitudinally mounted at the forward end of the members, of a fuel tank mounting behind the motor comprising a crossbolster connected between the members at the rear end of the motor and forwardly of the box,

a. bracket structure carried on the bolster, pads formed on the transmission box, a verticalxwall carried on said pads, side bars longitudinally carried in spaced relation on the bracket structure and Wall, a fuel tank carriedlongitudinally on said brackets and wall between the bars, and means for securing the tank to said bars.

4. The combination with a tractor having a frame comprising a pair of. side memberslongitudinally disposed in spaced relation with a transmission box cross-connectingthe rear ends thereof and with a motor longitudinally mounted at the forward end of the members, of a fuel tank mounting behind the motor comprising a crossbolster connected between the members at the rear end of the motor and forwardly of'the box, a bracket structure carried on the bolster, said bracket structure providing an arcuate surface of a cylinder, pads formed on the transmission box, a vertical wall carried on said pads and providing an upper-saddle flange formed as they.

surface of the same cylinder, side angle bars longitudinally carried in spaced relation on the bracket structure and wall, said bars having respectively an upright arcuate flange lying on the surface of the same cylinder, a cylindrical fuel tank carried longitudinally on said brackets and wall between and nesting against the arcuate flange of the. bars, and means for securing the tank to said arcuate flanges of the side angle bars.

5. The combination with a tractor having a frame comprising a pair of side members longitudinally disposed in spaced relation with a transmission box cross-connecting the rear ends thereof and with a motor longitudinally mounted. at the forward end of the members, of a fuel tank mounting behind the motor comprising a cross-bolster connected between the. members at the rear end of the motor and forwardly of the box, said bolster including a pad at each end thereof, a bracket secured to each pad, the upper ends of the brackets providing an arcuate surface of a cylinder, pads also formed on the transmission box, a vertical wall carried on said last mentioned pads and providing an upper saddle flange formed as the surface of the. same cylinder, side angle bars longitudinally carried in spaced relation on the brackets and wall, a cylindrical fuel tank carried longitudinally on said brackets and wall between the angle bars, and means for securing the tank to said angle bars.

6. A fuel tank mounting for tractors comprising a pair of front brackets spaced transversely and each including a horizontal outwardly extending flange, a bar cross-connecting said brackets, a rear wall bracket structure also having oppositely extending outwardly turned horizontal flanges respectively in longitudinal alignment with the flanges on the front brackets, longitudinally extending side angle bars secured along each side of the front and rear bracket structures to their outwardly extending flanges, each side bar having an upright flange, and a fuel tank carried between said side bars on the front and rear bracket structures,

the opposite sides of said tank being secured directly to the upright flanges of said side bars.

'7. A fuel tank mounting for a tractor having a body on which a tank is disposed longitudinally comprising a pair of front brackets spaced transversely and each including an outwardly extending horizontal flange and an inwardly extending arcuate flange, a rear wall bracket structure also having oppositely extending outwardly turned horizontal flanges respectively-in longitudinal alignment with the aforesaid horizontal flanges on the front brackets and an arcuate flange between said last named horizontal flanges, all of said arcuate flanges being formed as the surfaces of a common cylinder, a cylindrical fuel tank supported at the front and rear thereof on said arcuate flanges, and a pair of side angle bars at opposite sides of the fuel tank, each having an upwardly extending arcuate portion secured directly to the tank and an outwardly extending horizontal portion secured to the aforesaid horizontal flanges on the front brackets and the rear wall bracket structure.

8. A fuel tank mounting for a tractor having a body on which a tank is disposed longitudinally comprising a pair of front brackets spaced transversely and each including an outwardly extending horizontal flange and a contiguous inwardly and downwardly extending flange, a rear wall bracket structure also having oppositely extending outwardly turned horizontal flanges and contiguous inwardly and downwardly extending flanges respectively in alignment with corresponding flanges on the front brackets, a fuel tank supported at the front and rear thereof on said inwardly and downwardly extending flanges, and a pair of side angle bars at opposite sides of the fuel tank, each having a vertical leg secured directly to the fuel tank and a horizontal leg secured to the aforesaid horizontal flanges on the front brackets and rear wall bracket structure.

DAVID B. BAKER. CLIFFORD R. ROGERS. NORMAN O. PANZEGRAU. 

